"Art touches the soul...art is communication...it reaches out from the canvas and passes through the eyes of the viewer right into his heart where it can leave an imprint of beauty that can make the spirit sing."Nina Baldwin ...

Welcome to Artscapes!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Kandinsky, the Father of Abstract Art

Kandinsky is credited with painting the first abstract works. His love of color, and intensity of color is obvious, especially in his earlier landscapes, such as the bottom image above, "Winter Landscape" from 1909. (I'll get this blogging figured out someday! Until then, please pardon the placement!) I can see the impressionistic influence in this piece, can't you? The second (from the bottom) image is of a landscape that he painted in 1913, just 4 years later..I posted it so that you could see his artistic progression in a short time.

He started painting when he was 30 years old. He was a resident of either Germany or Russia over many years, but eventually decided to live out his life in France. He became a citizen in 1939.

While in Germany, Wassily taught at the Bauhaus School of Art, a school concerned with architecture, the use of plastics, industrial fabrication and manufacture. He worked there from 1922 to 1933, when it was closed by the Nazis. During this time his work became more angular and geometric as can be witnessed in the image included above at the top (location, location!). As you can see, Wassily used many different geometric shapes and lines, employing repetition, bright, more dominant colors and lots of energy contrasting with a softer more flowing background. In viewing this painting I am reminded that Kandinsky plotted his artwork almost as if it was a musical composition. Indeed he had a theory that painting a work was akin to composing music. The layout has a logical progression to it, which helps the eye of the viewer to move around the parts of the painting, finally taking in the whole composition.

Kandinsky was a deep thinker. He had theories about art. I will talk about those tomorrow...

to Purchase Giclees of the above painting, "WOMEN GATHERING"...

Shipping is free in the continental USA!!...Shipping outside of the continental USA will need to be calculated...These giclees are printed on fine archival quality paper with beautiful, saturated archival inks. They absolutely sing with color! There is a white border around the image.email me at: mlbaldwin2@msn.com

I would love to hear from you!!

In my College Years...

... I was a "gopher" to Mr. Paul Coze, French Consul and famous artist in Arizona. Paul Coze was responsible for giving Phoenix its southwestern flair through his many stunning public works. He is my inspiration today as he was then!! His art is timeless!

"ART IS POWER!...

It can influence perception, opinion and values. And the artist who creates uses his paintbrush to focus on a moment in time...recording those things that touch the heart."Nina Baldwin.

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About Me

Born in the East, I was brought up wearing bobby socks, tweeds, wool and plenty of navy blue. My first exposure to art was really through the Church… the beautiful classical religious art.
My family and I moved to Phoenix in the 60’s. Moving so far from the formality of the East was, to say the least, culture shock! Tweeds and wool were unheard of in Arizona…and navy blue was no longer in the color palette. Almost “anything went” in “Paradise”…swim suits, shorts and tops and sundresses were the most you wanted to be in! And color…the hot temperatures of the desert were the perfect excuse to wear the shades of citrus, mangos and papayas.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the art…of course, you still found the traditional old masters’ works in the church, but outside the doors was a land very influenced by the proximity to Mexico and the heat of the desert. Bright colors and primitive folk art startled me into appreciating an entirely different look, not only in clothing, but also in art…

CONTACT ME

mlbaldwin2@msn.com ~~ email me if you are interested in purchasing originals, giclees or prints of my artwork...also my earrings!! they make great gifts for Christmas, as well as my artwork!

also by appointment in my studio...mlbaldwin2@msn.com

COPYRIGHT

The artist retains the copyright to all content, including images, on this blog. If you would like to use the text, that's fine with me, but please do me the favor of leaving a link with it to my blog...and thanks! Please do not copy images without permission.

"SISTERS III"

...from my "Women Gathering" series. "Sisters III" is full of beautiful women on their paths, supporting one another. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing an archival giclee...image is not quite complete for security reasons.

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THE ARTISTS WHO INFLUENCED ME MOST...

...didn't pass down their favorite techniques or best paint brushes. They did more than that. They taught me never to stop learning, to always be curious, to try new things inspite of any fears, to face life with anticipation, and to delight the eyes - they are the doors to the soul.~Nina Baldwin

I Paint in a Contemporary style...

...sometimes bordering on abstract, which allows me the freedom to create, conveying the emotion of the moment. I tend to use bright, beautiful colors of paint. My work is experimental and many of the techniques I use are unique to my own style, having discovered them on my own in my studio. Thanks for stopping by my blog...I hope you enjoy my wanderings...